The voice of the cab’s GPS signals that I’ve arrived at my destination. The large sign of the CGU Cinema welcomes me as I descend down my ride. I have passed this area a lot of times during my trips to the library, but I haven’t seen the building this close.

Groups of young people bustle about the sidewalk. I guess it's common for kids my age to be out and about on weekends. Thankfully, it’s not too crowded yet, so I can relax a bit.

But if there’s anything I should be anxious of, it’s that I don’t seem to fit in the crowd. If this place is a garden of fashionable clothing, my outfit is definitely a weed of dreariness.

My dad's faded hand-me-down coat over a plain white pullover, coupled with baggy jeans and a gray sneaker that I haven't washed for a while.

To top it off, a large sling bag hangs on my shoulder. It's filled with books, because my parents think I’m going to the library. It's the only place I go to during the weekends.

“MinSeok!”

I swing my head to the direction of the voice.

Like a model walking on a runway, the owner of the voice stands out from the crowd. His height, his clothes, his looks. It's hard not to admit he's dashing.

Perfectly white shoes. Close-fitting black pants. Navy blue long coat contrasting against a golden brown button-down. His hair is even parted to one side like those actors I see on TV.

JaeHoon approaches me with a big smile on his face. The difference of our appearance is evident on the reflection on the glass panels on the building.

He puts a hand out from his pockets to greet me. Leatherette gloves cover it. He's probably cold.

“Have you waited long?” JaeHoon asks.

“No. I just arrived as well.”

“Sorry, I’m late. The first train was crowded so I had to wait for another. Did you have troubles with the subway?”

“N-no, I didn’t… can’t…”

“Oh right! You can’t possibly ride the subway. So… how did you…”

“Cab. I can only ride a cab.”

“I see. Do you want to head in now?”

I nod, and he guides me to the entrance of the theater.

The inside of the establishment is very different from its exterior. While the outside is covered in grays and browns, the inside is overly bright. Multiple lights stud the high ceiling, casting a warm glow on the walls and floors. LED lights frame the movie posters, making them even more eye-catching. There’s also a food stall where a line has formed. The scent of butter wafts to where I stand. I let my eyes intake the surroundings in bulk. But I then remember someone watching me.

“Sorry, it’s just…”

… my first time here, the voice in my head finishes.

“It's ok,” JaeHoon replies.

If he finds me laughable, I can’t see it under his kind smile.

We start towards the ticketing kiosks, devices that look like enormous smartphones. I’ve seen in vlogs that it can handle and dispense ticket orders; fully automated.

Suddenly, a group of friends cut from my left. I try to stop, but hitting them is imminent at this point. I squeeze my eyes to brace for the impact and the potential consequence of someone taking a peek at my soul. But instead, strong arms scoop me back up, and my head hits a sturdy chest.

“Are you ok?” JaeHoon asks, his deep voice resonating from the chest I’m leaning at.

I release a deep breath that I must be holding in, bringing my head down, eyes to the gloved hand still holding on me. Realization of the purpose of the gloves hits me.

“You weren’t cold”

He releases me from his clasp.

“Yes, I thought this might happen… so…”

I bring my gaze to his face as he shyly looks away. Last week, I was so terrified of this guy, not knowing he could be this…

… considerate.

“Let’s go get tickets,” I attempt to change the subject.

We finally reach the kiosks “safely”, and he takes control of the device.

He brings up the list of movies available. The first one is a horror movie, a very popular one I keep seeing on social media as of late. As I am about to bring my objection, he speaks first.

“I hope it’s ok if we don’t go for this. I’m kind of…”

He makes a twisting motion of his head, seemingly uncertain to divulge what he’s about to say.

“Me too,” I agree. “I’m terrified of them.”

“Oh, glad we feel the same about this.”

The next is an action film, another popular film. He seems to be into it, but I ask him to check the rest of the list first. I hope I didn’t disappoint him.

He scrolls the list further, quickly passing the romantic comedy films; I think those will be awkward. He then stops at a Western 3D animated film about dragons. He looks at me with a question.

“By any chance… Do you watch cartoons?”

I hold a laugh. Because yes, I do. In fact, I love animated shows. I nod bashfully.

“Great! I thought you would think I’m so childish for being interested in these.”

“No, I like them too,” I admit.

“Then let’s go with this.”

He tinkers on the kiosk as I fish my card from my wallet. I hand him the card, but he waves his hand.

“No, I’m paying. I invited you, so I’m paying”

I want to refuse, but he already brings his card out.

I remember the food stall. “Ah, then… I’ll buy the popcorn.”

He agrees to it gladly.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

If I find the lobby amazing, the actual theater is enthralling. The gigantic room is dimly lit, with only blue LED lights to guide your eyes to your seat; like a sci-fi setting. We climb the stairs, JaeHoon taking the lead to find our seats.

“Here.” He points out to the center of a long row of empty seats. Ah, I failed to consider that theater seats are close to each other.

“Sit at six. I’ll sit at seven. You can place your bag at five.”

“Huh? You bought three tickets?”

“I thought you’d be uncomfortable with a stranger beside you.”

Once again, he leads the way to our seats. He props himself on seven, and I follow to six and place my bag on five. I realize the center seat also grants me freedom from the audience who will enter and exit our rows. Has this guy thought of all this?

Awkward silence then comes to us; we don’t have much to talk about. I just watch the people coming in, until the whole theater is almost full. And soon the lights go off, except for the LED lights on the floor, and images start rolling on the massive screen.

It is… AWESOME. Watching on TV or on the laptop screen is nothing compared to this. The vast display. The level of detail. The booming sounds of the speakers. Exhilaration takes over me as the movie draws me in, and I forget about everything else around me.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

I guess that’s evident on my face right now. But I didn’t just enjoy it; I loved it.

The taxi I hailed from the app arrives and halts in front of us. JaeHoon quickly grabs the door of the passenger seat and opens it for me.

“Thank you for hanging out with me,” he says as I sit inside. “Bye”

He closes the door gently; his image behind the glass as he smiles and waves me goodbye. The cab starts to move and JaeHoon slowly slides away from my window view. His disappearing image tugs at my chest, like I’m forgetting something, like there’s something within me that needs to be released.

I pull out my phone and open the Kokoa app. My fingers dart to the keyboard, typing the words I should have said to him earlier.